Suitability of malt distillery effluent for vegetable (spinach) irrigation

Author

Zimbizi, Tadiwa.

Title

Suitability of malt distillery effluent for vegetable (spinach) irrigation

Abstract

Wastewater reuse for crop irrigation can meet irrigation water quality and crop water requirements. However, its use may have potential adverse public and environmental health effects. Malt distillery effluent (MDE) is a potential source of irrigation water. The suitability of MDE for vegetable irrigation was determined using international irrigation water quality requirements. The study employed a quantitative analytical design where effluent grab samples from a distillery effluent treatment from August 2023 to April 2024 were measured for pH, biological oxygen demand (BOD), electrical conductivity (EC), nutrients, total suspended solids (TSS) and total dissolved solids (TDS). The results were statistically compared with international irrigation water quality requirements for vegetables.The study revealed that MDE quality parameters exhibited variations with FAO guidelines. Measured mean MDE quality parameters were pH (Mean7.16±0.16),NO3-N (2.30±0.89), BOD(48.40±14.46), K (20.98±3.47) and Na (156.47±28.87).Only values for pH and NO3-N were within threshold limits (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Overall, MDE may be a potential candidate for vegetable irrigation. However, it has to be treated before reuse to meet irrigation water quality requirements for vegetables. Dilution with river water may need further research.

Date

May 2024

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Biological oxygen demand,

Electrical conductivity,

Irrigation,

malt, pH

Supervisor

Dr. A. Kanda,